Solving the FitFlop Toepost Dilemma

I’m a dedicated follower of flip flops. Not a summer passes that I’m not tempted to add a couple of pairs to the wardrobe. I can be seduced by colour, by comfort, by fabric, by price – just about anything. A display of flip flops attracts me like a magnet and it was ever thus. But, as any flip flop enthusiast will tell you, toe posts that rub are a nuisance and can present a problem that’s tricky to solve. A toe protector is the obvious answer – after all, what is needed is something to cushion and protect the tender areas on your toes but you don’t want something that looks ugly as it’s going to be very visible when you wear your flipflops.

This year, for the first time, I purchased my first pair of Fitflops and have already posted about that experience here. And, yes, I’m still wearing them – a lot. And, yes, I think I would consider getting another pair. And, yes, I do think that they have helped my legs a bit. But the toe post was uncomfortable and that really did surprise me.

Being such a long time wearer of flip flops I’ve never understood women who said they couldn’t cope with toe posts.  So it really took me by surprise when the Fitflops really did hurt my toes.

Solutions to the FitFlop Toe Post Dilemma

1. Band aids. Wearing a bandaid to protect the toe from rubbing certainly helped, but the bandage was visible and did not present an attractive look.
2. Toe post gel protectors. You will have seen these in lots of outlets. Primark do one, there’s one in the Pretty Feet range, Scholl do a gel toe protector and there are lots of others around. But for FitFlops, these seem surprisingly large and are visible on the foot.
3. Cutting a gel protector to size. I tried trimming a gel based toe protector so that it wouldn’t be so visible, but it only worked briefly. I guess there isn’t enough adhesive to keep it in place if you cut it too small and so it fell off almost straight away.
4. Scholl moleskin. I bought the moleskin in desperation. The tricky bit was going to be cutting the moleskin so that it would protect the toes and yet not be visible when wearing the Fitflops. Careful marking out with a pen before taking up the scissors did the trick. I applied the moleskin around the toe post and also on the section of the upper of the Fitflop that’s closest to the toe post. Though I say it myself, it was a neat job. And, it worked – instantly.

There must be an opportunity here for someone to invent a comfortable, discreet toe post protector specially designed for fitflop and flipflop wearers who, more often than not, are the owners of pretty feet. In the meantime, a little moleskin could be just what the doctor ordered.